THE leader of Tendring Council has called for urgent talks with NHS bosses after health watchdogs rated Colchester Hospital inadequate again.

Neil Stock today called for Colchester Hospital chief exec Nick Hulme to attend Tendring's local health board meeting "as a matter of urgency".

“As a community leader, it is our duty to be a critical friend and we will use every available opportunity to ensure we support Colchester Hospital to return to the standard of care that patients rightly deserve,” said Mr Stock.

“It’s a real concern to us that significant improvements have not been forthcoming and I believe that now is the time for a more radical approach.”

“By working together we will do everything in our power to support real change.”

Colchester Hospital NHS Trust has been in special measures for more than two years.

The latest inspection found concerns around clinical leadership, a bullying culture on one ward and staff shortages.